A coalition of women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the auspices of Abuja Moms Foundation, has advocated for full implementation of policies and laws to end molestation and abuse of children in the country.

Happiness Ani, founder, Abuja Moms Foundation, made the call at a senitisation walk on Sunday in Abuja.

Ms Ani said the walk was to sensitise citizens on their rights,the need for government and other relevant stakeholders to fully implement policies and laws to protect the rights of children and vulnerable persons.

She decried the challenges women and children face, stressing the need to educate them on their rights and the need to speak up to ensure perpetrators of such acts were punished according to the law.

She also emphasised the need for regular awareness campaigns and implementation of government policies to ensure victims access justice and were reintegrated to the society.

“I was molested at 10 and I know the trauma I went through before I could speak up on it.

“Every year, we educate women, mother’s, fathers and the public on dangers that some children go through.

”Sometimes when they go to report these matters, they are always encouraged to drop it or not to press charges.

“So we are encouraging people not to drop such cases, but ensure they are reported to get justice.

According to her, the foundation has been doing the senitisation exercises annually and has also secured court judgements in many cases to ensure victims and survivors get justice.

Nma Dickson, head of legal team, Abuja Moms, commended the government for signing into law the Child Rights Act, Violence Against Person Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 and other instruments to protect women and children.

Mrs Dickson admonished relatives and victims to report cases to the necessary authorities to ensure perpetrators are brought to book in order to serve as a deterrent to others.

“Over the years, people tend to be afraid to speak up against such abuses, but advocacy and implementation of the laws has made it easier to prosecute those who molest or abuse children.

 “The law made provision for compensation, because the child has gone through not only physical but psychological trauma as a result of the abuse or molestation,” she said

Members of the group displayed placards with inscriptions such as ‘shatter the silence, report molestation, ‘see something say something’, ‘uphold child rights act’ ‘and stop child abuse.’

(NAN)